It's fairly obvious how Snakewood got its name — although the photo on the right drives (or should we say slithers?) the idea home nicely. Found primarily in the rain forests of Suriname, a small South American country just north of Brazil, Snakewood (Piratinera guianensis) is one of the world's most sought after woods.

Snakewood Chopsticks by Jerry B. of North Carolina

Because of its expense — it is undoubtedly one of the most expensive woods around — and tendency to split, Snakewood is generally used in smaller applications, such as pens, knife handles, pool cues, inlay, etc. Although Snakewood turns very well, it needs to be stored and worked on with great care. The wood is hypersensitive to changes in humidity and temperature, so it should be stored in a climate-controlled area in which these conditions do not fluctuate much. Also, it's highly recommended to seal the wood with thin CA glue each time it is turned and/or sanded, which can help prevent potential checks and cracks from developing. Snakewood is naturally resinous, which adds to its lustrous appearance but can be problematic when it comes to applying a finish.

Snakewood Logs

Piratinera guianensis trees can grow trunks up to about three feet in diameter, although the exported logs are rarely more than about seven inches wide. The wood's telltale black markings can sometimes appear in more of a spotty pattern than linear. Because of this, the wood is occasionally referred to as Leopardwood (not to be confused with Panopsis rubellens, which is an entirely different wood).

Snakewood will inevitably darken over time with exposure to light, but the black markings generally remain distinct.

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